CB West High School
West Times Newsletter 9.21.2020
NEWS FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
PSAT’s: The 2020 PSAT (Preliminary SAT) will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at CB West. Because of COVID-related spacing requirements, the PSAT is only being offered to 11th grade students for the October testing. The PSAT10 will be offered to all Sophomores in the spring. Please check the Guidance Testing page for registration information and further updates.
SAT’s and ACT’s: Please check the ACT website and the College Board/SAT website for updated information about new fall testing dates, registration, testing locations, and COVID updates for each test.
Attention Seniors!
Forget the STEPS for applying/sending transcripts? Visit the College Application Process page.
Need some help applying to College or sending transcripts? Starting on September 17th, Mr. Curtis and Mrs. Dallam are available for "drop in" help! This is open to all students, and will occur weekly using the same link (see below):
+1 412-219-4136 United States, Pittsburgh (Toll)
Conference ID: 970 805 317#
Local numbers | Reset PIN | Learn more about Teams | Meeting options
District Financial Aid Info Session: The CBSD Financial Aid Night will take place virtually on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 6:30 PM. The presenter will be Fran McKeown from PHEAA (PA. Higher Education Assistance Agency). This presentation provides an early understanding of the financial decisions students need to make concerning higher education. Topics include higher education costs, the types of financial aid available, and how to apply for financial aid. There will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end of the presentation. Students must REGISTER AT THIS LINK, and they will be sent an invitation/link for the real-time event. This link, as well as additional financial aid information and resources, is posted on the Financial Aid webpage.
Social/Emotional Wellness: The Guidance Department will provide resources throughout the year to support students’ social and emotional health. Mr. Manners, one of our 11th grade counselors, plans to run an online Stress Reduction Program, available to all students. This 6-week Mindfulness based program will be offered this fall through the Teams platform and is designed to assist students with stress, attention, and overall quality of life. Students interested in participating in this program should contact Mr. Manners directly at dmanners@cbsd.org.
Learning/Bell Schedule
Please see the 100% Virtual Learning Schedule by clicking here. We follow an A/B schedule with each day alternating. Information about the hybrid learning schedule and other information will be forthcoming.
MBIT Information
Daily Announcements
Stay up-to-date on the latest information at CB West. Go to our 'Daily Announcements' page on our CB West website listed under 'School Links' - please click here.
Back to School Night - Virtual
Central Bucks High School West will host a Virtual Back to School Night on September 29th at 7:00 PM. During this important event, teachers will explain the academic program, answer questions about the curriculum, and discuss what they expect from students. Click here for details.
Please note: If you are accessing the Teams link on an iPhone or Mac, you will need to download the Teams app first. The web version will not work for Safari. Learn more about Teams
CB West Parent Council
We look forward to continuing our partnership with parents through the 2020-2021 Central Bucks West Parent Council. Membership to the council is open to all interested CB West parents.
Meetings will be held virtually for the time being. Meetings begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 10:30 AM.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE 9/23/2020 PARENT COUNCIL MEETING
Please note: If you are accessing the Teams link on an iPhone or Mac, you will need to download the Teams app first. The web version will not work for Safari. Learn more about Teams
September 23, 2020
October 21, 2020
November 18, 2020
January 20, 2021
February 24, 2021
March 20, 2021
April 21, 2021
AP Exam Information for 1st Semester
If your child is currently taking an Advanced Placement class, please take time to read the following message:
On Monday, September 21st, teachers will help students “digitally activate” (join) their classes in their AP accounts. This will allow students to access resources from College Board. Students then have until October 30th to elect to take the AP exam in May of 2021. If your student chooses to take the exam, he/she must then register and make payment via My Payments Plus by October 30th. Information regarding My Payments Plus is below and will also be shared with your child in their AP class.
Registration/Deadline:
To register for your AP Examinations, please visit www.mypaymentsplus.com
between Monday, September 21st and Friday, October 30th, 2020. All registrations for 1st semester and full year AP courses must be completed by Friday, October 30th. Through this site, you will be able to view all available exams and make AP exam payments for all students in the same household in one transaction.
- If you do not already have a My Payments Plus account, follow the on-screen instructions to create one.
- If you already have a My Payments Plus account, be sure to “Add” each student who will be taking an AP exam.
- Please note that exams must be taken on the College Board scheduled day.
- When registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation number. Please record and save your confirmation number.
Payment/Additional Fees: The cost is $100 per exam, which includes the registration fee.
**PLEASE NOTE the following additional fees that will be applied after the October 30th deadline for 1st semester classes:
*Cancellation Fee: $0 (for 2020-21 school year only)
*Late Registration Fee: $40.00
Withdrawing from an exam:
If you are no longer able to take an exam for which you have already registered, an email or letter from a parent/guardian to Mrs. Bagnick, our AP Coordinator, in Guidance (Lbagnick@cbsd.org) is required at least 48 hours prior to the exam. Your maximum refund will be $95 per exam.
Financial Aid:
Students who qualify for the free/reduced lunch program are eligible for a reduced exam fee. The adjusted fee will be reflected in your My Payments Plus account when you log in.
Technical support:
If you experience technical issues with your account, or forget your login or password, please contact My Payments Plus, Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM at (877) 237-0946.
If your child is taking an Advanced Placement class second semester, communication will be shared in January in preparation for the March deadline. Please do not register for those tests until that time.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bagnick, our AP Coordinator, at lbagnick@cbsd.org.
Attendance
During virtual learning, we will be following the same attendance policies and procedures as we typically do, outlined in the Pennsylvania Act 138 attendance policies and as described in our Student handbook. Importantly, attendance is compulsory and students are expected to be on time daily. Teachers will be taking attendance each block through Infinite Campus, our student management system. In the event that a student is late or absent, please email or call the CB West Attendance Office. If we do not receive notification and/or if an absence or lateness is not excused, attendance meetings and letters may be warranted.
Late Arrival/Early Release - SENIORS ONLY!
Seniors are eligible for either first block late arrival or fourth block early release if they do not have a scheduled class, and provided they do not owe obligations. Students must obtain parent/guardian permission and administrative approval in order to have this privilege. Please Click Here for LA/ER Permission Survey to fill out the permission form. Please fill it out if you think your son/daughter will be eligible for late arrival or early release at any point this school year.
Please note that filling out this form is giving permission if your son/daughter is going to have late arrival or early release on their schedule. This is not confirming that they will have it. Having late arrival or early release is based on credits needed, fulfilling any owed obligations, and is scheduled via your child's counselor in conjunction with parent and administration.
SENIOR PORTRAITS
Student Parking
The student parking paperwork along with the directions are now available and can be found on the West Home page under "News from CB West” and can also be found under the ‘Parents/Students’ < ‘For Students’ tab. PARKING INFORMATION LINK
Students must have a driver's license to apply. Students must clear all obligations before parking will be assigned. Payment will be through www.mypaymentsplus.com. All parking is assigned by lottery. To be included in the parking lottery all paperwork needs to be complete, including photocopies of your driver’s license, registration(s) and My Payment Plus receipt. This paperwork needs to be returned to the Safety & Security Office at CB West no later than 3:00 pm on September 25, 2020.
Parking packets may be dropped off in the vestibule at the West Court Street entrance by the flagpole starting Friday, September 18, 2020 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm except for the last day (9/25), which will be a deadline of 3:00pm. Please put a contact number on the outside of the envelope when you drop it off just in case your packet is incomplete. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Johnsen at ljohnsen@cbsd.org. Thank you.
Book/Item Distribution and Return
Until further notice, we will designate select Thursdays from 2:00pm-4:00pm in the CB West Cafeteria for students who are participating online to retrieve needed materials as communicated by teachers. Students can also return books or other curricular items by placing it in a labeled bin. Please park in the Junior lot off of MacFarlane Lane and enter the cafeteria. Please wear a mask and keep 6 feet social distancing at all times. Only 1 person per family may come into the building. Please bring a bag or bookbag to carry your items.
Process: Please find your placard, take the items under the placard, and leave the placard on the table at your spot.
Important: Please leave all name labels on any and all items given to you. This will be essential when you return items.
Larger Items: Teachers will communicate with you if you have larger items to pick up. Large items will be labeled with your name and will be in the back of the cafeteria in the large-item section.
Dates: The following are the Thursday dates for pick up and drop off of items mapped out through December (just in case and subject to change).
- 10/1/20
- 10/15/20
- 10/29/20
- 11/12/20
- 11/19/20
- 12/10/20
- 12/17/20
Student Emergency & Information Form Updates
It is time to update your children’s “Student Emergency & Information Form”. This must be done each year. The process will take approximately 10 minutes to complete, and will ensure we have current contact information for you and your family, which is even more critical as we begin the school year virtually. All CBSD families (with the exception of those who are new registrants for 2020-2021) are required to complete this update on/before September 30, 2020.
The online form will ask you to confirm and/or update the following:
· Demographic Information
· Emergency Contacts
· Health Information, including permission for emergency care and analgesic administration
· Media Release Preferences
Visit the CBSD Infinite Campus parent portal at www.cbsd.org/parentportal and don’t forget to hit submit at the end. You will receive an email verifying that your submission was received.
Picture Day
CB West will hold picture day for our Sophomores, Juniors, and newly enrolled Seniors on Monday, October 19, Tuesday, October 20, Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23. Students will be scheduled by alphabet and called down to the auditorium. Administration has worked closely with our photography company, C and C Studios, to ensure that all procedures adhere to the guidelines of the Health and Safety Plan. Any students participating in online learning can schedule to have their pictures taken at the studio, by contacting C and C studios at candcphotostudios@verizon.net or by calling (215) 345-1851. Students who do not get their pictures taken will be issued updated student ID’s with their picture from last year on it.
CB Student Toolbox Infographic: Grades 9-12
Antler Yearbook Information
Don't forget to reserve your child an Antler yearbook for this school year. Until the end of September, the Antler will hold a Back to School special, where yearbooks will be only $70! Due to COVID, we will only be accepting online orders, at www.jostens.com . Don't delay - last year we completely sold out of yearbooks - be sure to reserve your child's high school memories today! Seniors Only - Visit the Antler website for Baby Photo information. https://www.cbsd.org/Domain/476
Parents of Seniors- The Antler Yearbook needs YOUR help!
We want this year’s seniors to get the recognition they deserve! Do you have a senior who has excelled in the arts, community service, music, athletics or has a special interest or hobby? Do you have a photo of your senior on their first day of kindergarten AND the first day of their senior year? If so, please send photos and information about your senior to sferraro@cbsd.org with your student’s name in the subject line! *Please note that we cannot guarantee that every submission will be included.
Keystone Testing
The district is currently working on information and procedures regarding Keystone testing for this year as well as cancelled testing from last spring. Information will be communicated to the community as it is finalized.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FROM PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has revised the immunization requirements for students.
The state law immunization requirement must be completed by November 10, 2020.
Please click here for further details.
If the student is in the middle of a series and it is too soon for the next dose, the parents must provide the school nurse with a plan for immunizations (signed by a health care provider) within the first 5 days. If the student has incomplete immunizations and no medical plan, the student will be excluded from school.
You may check your child’s school immunization record by logging onto the parent portal through the district website at this link or by consulting with your child’s physician.
Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHIP is Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program for uninsured children and teens up to age 19.
Click on the link for more information about CHIP.
About Us
Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/30
Location: 375 West Court Street, Doylestown, PA, United States
Phone: 267.893.2500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbschools
Twitter: @CBWestHS